Have you ever found yourself struggling to get the right gear? If so, you’re not alone. Even with a super user friendly ebike like ours, many cyclists face this dilemma, and the solution lies in understanding when to change gears. Bike gears are a crucial component that can help you cycle faster, climb hills with ease, and maintain a comfortable pedaling speed. In this blog, we will delve into the art of gear changing and explore the optimal times to shift gears.
Whether you’re a seasoned ebiker or just starting out, mastering the skill of gear changing can greatly enhance your riding experience. So let’s dive in and unlock the secrets of when to change gears!
When Should I Change 
My Ebike Gears?
Bike gears enable you to cycle faster and climb hills with ease, they also help you maintain a comfortable pedalling speed. You should ideally pedal at a cadence (the number of revolutions of the crank per minute) of 70 to 100rpm, although this can differ between riders.
You should change into an easier gear whenever climbing up hills and use a harder gear when cycling on the flat or if you ever feel there’s little resistance when pushing on the pedals.
It’s a good idea to keep an eye on the road ahead and anticipate when you need to change gear. For example, if you’re about to start a climb, it’s worth changing into an easier gear just before it starts so you can tackle the ascent with ease. “Change on the flat before going up that”
Similarly, if you know you’re about to come to a stop at a traffic light, for instance, it’s wise to shift down into an easier gear. This will make starting again much less effort.
As you start to feel more comfortable with the gears, it’s worth experimenting with different combinations of gears to work out what’s best for your style of riding.
Tip – When changing gears, it is important to have good cadence as gears require the chain to be moving through the derailleur in order to shift between the gears, you also want to be smooth with your pedalling when changing.
How to Change Gears on a MeloYelo ebike
Our MeloYelo ebikes feature Shimano thumb shifters
Thumb shifters have two levers that enable you to toggle between higher (harder) and lower (easier) ebike gears. These levers are positioned so one is effectively underneath your handlebar and operated with your thumb, while the other is above your handlebar and operated with your index finger. Others will have two levers next to one another underneath the handlebar, both of which can be operated with your thumb.
Tip – When changing into a higher gear (easier), it is often required (especially as you move into the easiest gears) to push the thumb lever slightly past the position you think is required in order to further assist the gear change.
With practice, ebike gear changing will become second nature, and you’ll find yourself gliding through any ebiking adventure.
So get out there, embrace the power of gears, and enjoy the ride!
